Austral English Part 231

1875. Ibid. July 17, p. 123, col. 3:

"The shanghai, which, as a secret instrument of mischief, is only less dangerous than the air-gun."

1884. `Police Offences Act, New Zealand,' sec. 4, subsec. 23:

"Rolls any cask, beats any carpet, flies any kite, uses any bows and arrows, or catapult, or shanghai, or plays at any game to the annoyance of any person in any public place."

1893. `The Age,' Sept. 15, p. 6, col. 7:

"The magistrate who presided on the Carlton bench yesterday, has a decided objection to the use of shanghais, and in dealing with three little boys, the eldest of whom was but eleven or twelve years of age, charged with the use of these weapons in the Prince's Park, denounced their conduct in very strong terms. He said that he looked upon this crime as one of the worst that a lad could be guilty of, and if he had his own way in the matter he would order each of them to be lashed."

1895. C. French, Letter to `Argus,' Nov. 29:

"Wood swallows are somewhat sluggish and slow in their flight, and thus fall an easy prey to either the gun or the murderous and detestable `shanghai.'"

Shanghai-shot, n. a short distance, a stone's-throw.

1874. Garnet Walch, `Head over Heels' [Introduction to Tottlepot Poems]:

"His parents ... residing little more than a Shanghai-shot from Romeo Lane, Melbourne."

Shanty, n. (1) a hastily erected wooden house; (2) a public-house, especially unlicensed: a sly-grog shop.

The word is by origin Keltic (Irish). In the first sense, its use is Canadian or American; in the last, Australian. In Barrere and Leland it is said that circus and showmen always call a public-house a shanty.

1875. `Spectator' (Melbourne), June 26, p. 91, col. 1:

"These buildings, little better than shanties, are found in ... numbers."

1880. Garnet Walch, `Victoria in 1880,' p. 9:

"We read of the veriest shanties letting for L2 per week."

1880. W. Senior, `Travel and Trout,' p. 15:

"He becomes a land-owner, and puts up a slab-shanty."

1880. G. n. Oakley, in `Victoria in 1880,' p. 114:

"The left-hand track, past shanties soaked in grog, Leads to the gaol."

1882. A. J. Boyd, `Old Colonials,' p. 103:

"The faint glimmering light which indicates the proximity of the grog shanty is hailed with delight."

1885. H. Finch-Hatton, `Advance Australia,' p. 221:

"I have seen a sober man driven perfectly mad for the time being, by two gla.s.ses of so-called rum, supplied to him at one of these shanties."

1890. Rolf Boldrewood, `Miner's Right,' c. vi. p. 64:

"Any attempt to limit the licensing produced ... a crop of shanties, or sly-grog shops."

1890. `The Argus,' Aug. 9, p. 4, col. 2:

"The old woman thought that we were on gold, and would lamb down at the finish in her shanty."

Shanty-Keeper, n. keeper of a sly-grog shop.

1875. Wood and Lapham, `Waiting for Mail,' p. 45:

"Mrs. Smith was a shanty-keeper's wife."

1887. J. Farrell, `How he died,' p. 72:

"The shanty-keeper saw the entering strangers."

Shantywards, adv.

1890. `The Argus,' Aug. 2, p. 13, col. 4:

"Looking ... over the fence shantywards."

Shark, n. Some of the Australasian species are identical with those of Europe. Varieties and names which differ are--

Blue Shark (New South Wales)-- Carcharias macloti, Mull. and Heule.

Hammer S. (N.S.W.)-- Zygaena malleus, Shaw.

One-finned S. (N.S.W.)-- Notida.n.u.s indicus, Cuv.

Port Jackson S. (q.v.)-- Heterodontus phillipii, Lacep.; called also the Sh.e.l.l-grinder.

Saw-fish S.-- Pristiophorus cirratus, Lath.

School S. (N.S.W.)-- Galeus australis, Macl.; called also Tope (q.v.).

Shovel-nosed S. (N.S.W.)-- Rhin.o.batus granulatus, Cuv.; also called the Blind-Shark, or Sand-Shark.

Tiger S. (N.S.W.)-- Galeocerdo rayneri, Macdon. and Barr.

White S.-- Carcharodon rondeletii, Mull. and Heule; called also the White-Pointer.

The Sharks of New Zealand are--

Black Shark-- Carcharodon melanopterus (Maori name Keremai).

Brown S.-- Scymnus lichia.

Great S.-- Carcharias maso.